[Epidemiology and care of mentally ill prison inmates in Europe]

To provide a standardised description of psychiatric care and epidemiology of mentally disordered inmates of jails and prisons in 24 European countries.

Analysis of administrative national data, provided by national experts via detailed questionnaire.

Most frequent model of care for mentally disordered prison inmates is a mixed provision of treatment by medical prison services and general psychiatric services from the national health services. However, the contribution of the latter is quantified nowhere. Psychiatric screening and assessment routines in prisons and jails are deficient. Specific treatment programs are lacking. Prevalence or incidence data is rarely collected on a national level.

The awareness of responsible authorities across Europe does not match the seriousness and urgency of the problem. An European standardisation and regular update of basic indicators of mental ill health in prison systems is essential.